Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding teaching or substituting in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Columbus. The Diocese operates fifty-five schools. While the majority of these schools are located in the Columbus metropolitan area, many are located in smaller towns and rural communities. All exist primarily to teach children to live as Christians and to be happy, productive citizens.

Diocesan policy and the Superintendent of Schools require all full-time and part-time teachers to hold a currently valid Ohio provisional, professional or permanent certificate/license by the first day of each school year. Teachers may not begin the school year with an aide, temporary substitute, out of state, or expired certificate/license.

All applicants for teaching or substitute positions in the schools of the Columbus Diocese must complete the on-line teaching application BEFORE being considered for teaching vacancies or substitute positions.

Interviews for full-time and part-time teaching positions will be conducted by the Department for Education Director of School Personnel Services or his representative during on-campus visits. Teaching openings are posted on the Department for Education website. If a vacancy is posted for which you are licensed/certified and wish to be considered, please complete the on-line application and contact the Director of School Personnel Services by e-mail to let him know of your interest. The director will notify the principal of that school that you are interested. Do not contact the individual school principal unless the website directs you to do so. Teaching applicants will need to provide individual principals with a copy of a currently valid Ohio teaching license/certificate, transcripts showing degree and date of degree, and credentials from your college placement office, or two (2) letters of reference if you have classroom teaching experience, when interviewed at a school for a specific opening.

Persons who hold a BA degree, in a field other than education, may not teach in a regular classroom but may substitute on a short term basis (up to five [5] days in one class). Persons who hold a degree in education who have a valid Ohio teaching license/certificate or a valid substitute teaching license may substitute on a long-term basis (up to 120 days in a school year) in the field listed on their license/certificate. They may substitute up to five (5) days in fields not listed on their certificate/license. In addition to completing the on-line teaching application, all applicants for substitute teaching positions need to send the following items to the Diocesan Office of Personnel Services before accepting any substitute positions:

• a copy of your current Ohio teaching license/certificate or (if you do not have a degree in education and a teaching license/certificate) a copy of your college transcripts showing all coursework, degree and date of degree
• a copy of a BCI and FBI fingerprint report which is less than one year old
• verification of attendance at a "Protecting God's Children" workshop
  (session dates and on-line registration are available at www.cdeducation.org/oym/safe

*It is the policy of the Diocese of Columbus not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, handicap, or national origin. However, in accordance with O.R.C. 109.57, the chief administrator of any chartered nonpublic school must request that the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation research and determine whether the BCI and FBI have any information which would prevent a person from teaching or substituting in the schools.

The Diocese will maintain your on-line application for regular teaching in the active file for two (2) years from the time of its completion unless the applicant notifies the Personnel Services Office to the contrary.

The Diocese will maintain your on-line substitute teaching application for one (1) school year. Substitutes need to e-mail ddudzins@cdeducation.org after August 1 of every school year to remain an approved sub for that school year. Please do not complete a new sub application every year or you will have to complete new BCI and FBI reports every time you re-apply

Thank you again for your interest in the Columbus Catholic schools. If you have any further questions about the application procedure, please contact me.

Sincerely, Chuck Messerschmitt Department for Education Director of School Personnel Services 197 East Gay Street Columbus, OH 43215 cmessers@cdeducation.org (please complete the on-line application first) 614-221-5829